Kenworth W900S Keeps Monarch Cement in the Mix

January 21, 2015

When Kent Webber was offered the job as Manager of Subsidiary Operations for The Monarch Cement Company, it was as if he got a call up to the major leagues.

“I had been in this industry for a long time and had purchased cement from Monarch and knew its subsidiaries,” Webber said. “The cement was always top quality and so was how they stood behind their product. The industry had great respect for the company’s subsidiaries – everyone knew they were the guys to beat in the industry. You saw their bright Kenworth W900S mixers on jobsites and others started emulating them with equipment. Now, the W900S is the truck you see most when it comes to mixers.”

Kenworth W900S – Springfield Ready Mix

Producing over 600,000 cubic yards of concrete in 2014 through 21 ready-mix plants, 3 plants making concrete masonry units, and their transportation company in northwest Arkansas, Humboldt, Kan.¬-based Monarch Cement sells cement to its 11 subsidiaries in Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas.

Combined, the subsidiaries run 245 mixer trucks, 40 tractors for flatbed hauling as well as hauling bulk cement, plus 17 dump trucks. They deliver concrete to residential as well as commercial accounts in Kansas and Missouri.

Monarch has a centralized approach to its fleet and has standardized on the Kenworth W900S for its mixer fleet. It also is putting into service ultra-lightweight Kenworth T680s and T880s for its tractor fleet.

Kenworth W900S – Springfield Ready Mix

“We have a spreadsheet on each vehicle within the subsidiary companies, complete with cost-per-mile and vehicle age/mileage,” explained Webber. “When a truck is winding down, we either place it into service for ‘reserve’ duty, put it into a low-mileage operation, or sell it outright to a broker.”

According to Webber, new trucks coming in are purchased through MHC Kenworth, which matches well with Monarch’s subsidiary footprint. The Kenworth W900S models are equipped with 10-yard mixer bodies from McNeilus. Once the trucks or tractors are ready for service, they are sent to Monarch’s subsidiaries.

Kenworth W900S – Salina Concrete

“The quality of the trucks, and the support we receive from MHC and Kenworth is impressive,” said Webber. “I can’t tell you how important it is to have a dealer group that supports your operation – MHC bends over backwards to support us with any truck issue. We have the utmost confidence in Kenworth and MHC.”

Kenworth’s W900S, with set-forward front axle has been the go-to mixer for Monarch for many years. “Our drivers love them,” said Webber. “They’re solid, well-built and offer great value; and, they can maximize our loads like no other truck – the set-forward axle gives us the weight distribution we need to comply with bridge laws. We have some W900S trucks that are 18 years old and they’re still running strong. Our overall fleet age is 9 years.”

Monarch was one of the first fleets in the country to standardize on the PACCAR MX power plant. “MHC came to us when the PACCAR MX was first introduced and explained how the engine was different – lighter and pound-for-pound more powerful than any other engines on the market,” said Webber. “But, one of the biggest selling points was the support of the engine by Kenworth and MHC. We knew from experience how well they took care of our trucks; we knew they’d do the same with the engine. We haven’t been disappointed and it’s been a great business decision.”

Kenworth W900S – Dodge City Concrete

While Monarch was an early adopter of the engine technology, it’s also moving into new truck technology. According to Webber, Kenworth’s new platform trucks – the T680 and T880 will be making their debut with three of Monarch’s subsidiaries. Beaver Lake Transport will run the two T680s, while Salina Concrete Products and Kansas Building Products will each run a Kenworth T880. Both models are powered by the PACCAR MX-13 engine rated at 455 hp with 1,650 lb-ft of torque.

The Kenworth T680s, with 52-inch sleepers, were spec’d as ultra-lights – shaving more than 1,700 pounds off the company’s standard line haul tractor. “These tractors will run from Rogers (Ark.), to Humboldt, hauling cement or fly ash in pneumatic trailers, carrying more payload, which means more revenue,” said Webber. “The distance means an overnight stay is required every other day to complete the trip. MHC showed us how we could save nearly a ton of weight by spec’ing the Meritor Fuelite drive axle with wide-base drive tires and an aluminum 5th wheel. They also calculated our route, speed and loads to maximize payload and improve fuel mileage by choosing the correct transmission and rear-axle ratio.”

New Kenworth T880 for Monarch Cement Subsidiaries

Two T880 day cabs will haul flatbed trailers with brick and blocks and are about 400 pounds lighter than the Kenworth T800s currently in service. “Both the T680 and T880 are beautiful machines,” said Webber. “We know our drivers can’t wait to get behind the wheel.”

Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best® heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth’s Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth is a PACCAR company.